Warning! Contains spoilers for chapters 62.1 and 62.2 of Spy x Family!
While Spy x Family is consistently one of the cutest manga in Shonen Jump, its latest chapters show that it can get serious when it wants to. Not every author can write comedy and drama equally well but the manga's author Tatsuya Endo is showing that he is up to the task in its latest chapters. Which is a good thing considering the subject matter the story is now discussing.
Fans of Shonen Jump have been raving about Spy x Family. The series follows the unorthodox Forger family whose members all lead secretive double lives. Seeing the stoic spy Loid and deadly assassin Yor try to take care of their telepathic adopted daughter Anya as they carry out espionage missions is hilarious and heartwarming in equal measure. The manga’s art is a perfect complement to the story and the way it portrays the reactions of Spy x Family's quirky cast of characters to the various antics occurring is truly magnificent. Anya’s expressions alone prove that Endo is a comedic genius. However, the manga’s latest two chapters have cast away many of the comedic trappings of the series and shown that the series can tackle drama just as well as comedy.
Chapters 62.1 and 62.2 both depart from the present-day antics of the Forger family to give a glimpse into Loid’s childhood. Here it is revealed that Loid’s father was a lot less supportive than Loid is to Anya. He verbally and physically abuses his son, punishing him for playing with his friends instead of studying. While that is bad enough, Spy X Family's cold war turns hot when war breaks out between the East and the West and things get much, much worse for Loid. One by one, those closest to him are killed in air raids, starting with his young friends and eventually including both his parents. These losses led him to join the army and become a merciless soldier.
This flashback gives readers of the series invaluable information about one of the most important characters of the series. Seeing how Loid’s father treated him makes his attempts at raising Anya even more valiant. Instead of hurting her to try and get her to do well academically, he always treats her with kindness and love. The backstory also provides insight into why Loid is so dedicated to his job. Beyond adding depth to a single character, it also provides depth to the series as a whole, showing that behind Spy x Family's light-hearted tone is a much heavier backdrop.
While the manga's sudden shift in tone may be shocking to readers at first, it is very necessary in order to tell the story that Endo wants to tell. There isn't much comedy to be found in war, despite the large amount of humor the series wrings out of espionage. In portraying this more serious topic, Spy x Family must necessarily treat it with the weight and respect it deserves and the series does this with aplomb, showing itself to be much more than just a cute comedy.
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